A Michigan man is seeking $70 million from two large Christian publishers--Zondervan and Thomas Nelson--who, he claims are publishing Bibles that misconstrue Greek words in such a way that they cause pain and anguish for homosexuals.
Exhibit A is 1 Corinthians 6:9: "Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders."
The term "homosexual" dates from the 19th century, and many have contested that the word is an inappropriate rendering of arsenokoites, which more likely refers to economic exploitation, possibly, though not necessarily, linked with sex in some way. (See link for a thorough discussion, including the use of the word in both the New Testament, and non-canonical sources.)
I doubt the man has much of a case, considering freedom of speech and freedom of religion, but he does raise the issue of appropriate translation, and how sometimes vague Greek words have been translated, inaccurately, with words which reflect the prejudices of their times.
I think/hope it is most symbolic than anything. If he can call attention to the political slant often found in Bible translations that is a good thing.
Posted by: toujoursdan | July 29, 2008 at 05:15 PM
You might check the link on the background of arsenokoites. It's interesting. You'll note the context driven interpretations through the years, and also the considerable body of conflicting opinion about the meaning of the word.
Posted by: John Petty | July 29, 2008 at 07:43 PM
It's a good link. I have had a few debates on Beliefnet about what the word meant. I seem to recall that Martin Luther's NT translation of it was "child molester".
Corinth seems to be notorious for its temple prostitution. The [Catholic] New American Bible's footnotes say:
"The Greek word translated as boy prostitutes may refer to catamites, i.e., boys or young men who were kept for purposes of prostitution, a practice not uncommon in the Greco-Roman world. In Greek mythology this was the function of Ganymede, the "cupbearer of the gods," whose Latin name was Catamitus. The term translated Sodomites refers to adult males who indulged in homosexual practices with such boys. See similar condemnations of such practices in Romans 1:26-27; 1 Tim 1:10."
From: http://tinyurl.com/66279s
What is rarely discussed is the problem with "sin lists" in Christian theology anyway. Paul was probably trying to make a rhetorical point rather than a literal one. The notion that doing something or not doing something affects salvation goes clashes with the doctrine of grace.
Posted by: toujoursdan | July 30, 2008 at 08:50 AM
Yeah, the sin lists are kind of dopey. What's worse, nobody ever pays any attention to the items on the list, except for the sexual ones.
Posted by: John Petty | July 30, 2008 at 10:14 AM